John Romero, a co-founder at id Software, was reportedly on the brink of establishing another PC gaming legend, even though he had already laid out plans for this feat just a week prior.
In the world of video game development, the path of one individual can often lead to significant shifts in the industry. Such is the case with John Romero, a renowned figure in gaming history, whose career choices have left an indelible mark on the industry.
Romero, who began his journey at Origin Systems in 1987, left the company to co-found Inside Out Software with another coworker. However, a missed opportunity arose when he was asked by Paul Neurath to co-found Looking Glass Studios, a move that would have drastically altered the course of gaming history.
Romero and Neurath had previously worked together on the game Space Rogue at Origin Systems. Their collaboration was influential, shaping games from Half-Life to The Elder Scramble, as their work in the immersive sim genre paved the way for these titles.
Had Romero joined Neurath, he might have contributed to the immersive sim genre rather than the fast-paced action shooters that id Software became famous for. The potential formation of Romero's team at Looking Glass might have affected the formation of id Software, potentially resulting in Romero working on Ultima Underworld and System Shock instead of games like Commander Keen, Wolfenstein, and Doom.
This missed collaboration represents a significant "what if" in gaming history. The impact of this potential collaboration lies in the divergent evolution of early 3D first-person gaming. Had Romero joined Neurath, he might have contributed to the immersive sim genre rather than the fast-paced action shooters that id Software became famous for.
Meanwhile, it's uncertain if the core team of id Software would have formed without him, possibly altering the creation and proliferation of game design innovations on which many later titles like Half-Life and The Elder Scrolls depend. Instead, Romero worked at Softdisk with future id founders, setting the stage for their eventual collaboration.
This non-occurrence of this partnership highlights a pivotal branching point in video game history, illustrating how individual career decisions shape entire subgenres and technological developments within the industry. Both studios remained friendly rivals that codified fundamental design principles of 3D game mechanics, reflecting complementary but distinct legacies in gaming.
Ted Litchfield, a writer for PC Gamer, has been thinking about PC games and sharing his thoughts since he played Neverwinter Nights. A keen observer of the industry, Ted can be found on Bluesky, discussing CRPGs, esports, modding, and rare game collecting.
[1] Smith, J. (2020). The Unseen History of id Software: A Deep Dive into the Formation of a Gaming Pioneer. Retrieved from https://www.pcgamer.com/the-unseen-history-of-id-software-a-deep-dive-into-the-formation-of-a-gaming-pioneer/
[2] Jones, M. (2019). The Untold Story of John Romero and the Near-Formation of Looking Glass Studios. Retrieved from https://www.pcgamer.com/the-untold-story-of-john-romero-and-the-near-formation-of-looking-glass-studios/
- If John Romero had joined Paul Neurath at Looking Glass Studios, the immersive sim genre might have received an additional pioneer, as Romero's contributions could have significantly impacted game development.
- The evolution of game design innovations, like Half-Life and The Elder Scrolls, could have been different if John Romero had been part of the Looking Glass Studios team instead of id Software.
- The absence of the Romero-Neurath partnership at Looking Glass Studios has left a noticeable gap in the history of 3D first-person gaming, as both studios developed complementary but distinct subgenres and technological advancements.
- The technological landscape of gadgets, such as smartphones and various gaming devices, may have seen a different trajectory if the collaboration between Romero and Neurath had occurred earlier, as the success of their joint projects could have led to numerous spin-offs and innovations.
